I've been rocking Acuvue Oasys for about 10 years now, but to be honest, I've been using them for even longer than that. During my loyalty to this brand, I started noticing that they no longer met my expectations like they used to. I'd experience eye discomfort by the afternoon, even with fresh lenses, which was a major bummer.
I'd complain about eye discomfort by the afternoon, even with fresh lenses. It was like my eyes just couldn't handle them anymore.
My vision started to decline, and clarity became a major issue, especially in the evening. It turned out that it wasn't my eyes or the lenses at all, but rather my neck osteochondrosis and constricted blood vessels.
Lenses became ridiculously expensive, and I found myself wanting to buy them less and less. I mean, who wants to spend top dollar on something that's just not working out?
This winter, I decided it was time to find new lenses, but I wasn't about to head to the optometrist's office. I used the website, filtering by the parameters that mattered most to me: two-week lenses, good moisture content, high oxygen permeability, UV filter, six units per pack, overwhelmingly positive reviews, and affordability.
Product of review - contact lenses Cooper Vision Avaira Vitality
THE LOWDOWN
Continuous and uninterrupted contact lens wear, including silicone hydrogel lenses, for 19 years.
Optical power: minus 3.25. Without my glasses or lenses, I can barely navigate my home.
Sensitive eyes prone to redness, grittiness, and dryness, even on the first day with new lenses.
Age 45, with age-related changes on top of my nearsightedness, making it hard to see close up.
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR
I wanted contact lenses similar to my usual ones:
Two-week lenses
With good moisture content and high oxygen permeability
With a UV filter
Packaged in six units
With overwhelmingly positive reviews
Affordable
WHY AVAIRA VITALITY?
These contact lenses met all my requirements, and I'm not just talking about the specs. I mean, they're actually pretty great.
WHERE I BOUGHT THEM
I've bought all my lens purchases from Wildberries from different sellers, and the price and seller rating were the key factors for me. But these lenses are available everywhere, just at a higher price.
PRICE
Ranging from 1100 to 1300 rubles for a pack of 6 pieces. In our optics store, for example, such a pack is sold for 2200...
LOOK
The lenses are packaged in a colorful cardboard box with the brand logo and model name. It's a pretty standard packaging deal, but hey, it gets the job done.
Packaging
We can read all about the lenses from all sides of the box: who they are, what they are, whose they are. But the most important information - the main parameters - are indicated on the back.
Main parameters
Product information on the packaging
Product information inside the packaging
The lenses are neatly stacked in two rows, with the labels from the blister packs facing up.
Opening the packaging...
We have two blisters with three pieces each.
Contents of one pack
The product information is duplicated on the label.
A closer look at the blister pack
The lenses are touted as tinted for ease of use, but in the closed packaging, the tint is hardly visible at all.
The blister pack from the back
Honestly, I found them a bit tricky to spot even in the open packaging. My previous pair had a more noticeable tint.
Opening the blister pack...
The lens itself is thin and very flexible, with the traditional division between the front and back sides. In this position, the light tint is more noticeable.
The lens itself
This is the position we'll be putting it in.
THE TEST
These lenses are thin, thinner and more flexible than the Acuvue Oasys. Let's just say they're a bit 'slippery' when it comes to putting them in. The Avaira Vitality lens doesn't want to stay in place at first: it dries out, wrinkles, and slips off even for experienced users. It's a phase that will pass! But in the meantime, you might need to spend a bit more time getting them in during your morning rush.
A pair of lenses for the first time
A similar situation occurs when taking them out - you just need to get used to it.
I didn't experience any discomfort compared to my usual lenses. Actually, I noticed a significant advantage - these new lenses are way more comfortable for my sensitive eyes! My eyes don't feel dry, they don't get irritated, and I don't get red eyes. That's a big deal, especially if you stick to the recommended replacement schedule - even though I tend to wear them for a bit longer than two weeks.
In other areas, like brightness and clarity, they're just the same.
Lenses in action
MY TAKEAWAYS
Before summer, I thought I needed to switch to lenses with a higher optical power. I went to the optometrist, expecting to get a prescription for minus 3.5 or minus 3.75 diopters, but instead, I got to keep my existing minus 3.25 diopters. It turns out the issue is with the blood vessels in my neck, not my eyes.
I had a chat with the doctor about lenses, and the optometrist who worked with me was promoting Acuvue Oasys. The doctor was impartial and mentioned that Avaira Vitality is actually a better option for sensitive eyes, especially since they have a rounded edge that causes less irritation and discomfort. Acuvue Oasys, on the other hand, has a straight edge.
Lenses in action
THE VERDICT
I highly recommend Avaira Vitality contact lenses to anyone who's used to replacing their lenses every two weeks. For me, they have two major advantages:
They're more comfortable
They're cheaper
And don't worry too much about the initial difficulty of putting them in - it's temporary!